Contractor Blue Tongue Energy Park has received the prestigious Good Design Award Winner accolade in the Product Design Hardware and Building category in recognition for outstanding design and innovation.
Blue Tongue’s Solar Director Warren Hall along with local contractors Shane McBurnie and Peter Birthisel and assistance from Dougal Bruce, Brian Haebich and Baden Hall they had all contributed to the park.
With friendships that have lasted since primary school and scouts, the team pooled their engineering, trade and design knowledge to develop the Blue Tongue Energy Park - an advanced solar car park system at ClubMulwala and another similar one at the Mathoura Bowls Club.
Blue Tongue Solar Director Warren Hall said the award was recognition for all those involved.
“We put a lot of work into the design and then afterwards for the award application,” Warren said.
“We did not expect to win anything as there was over 800 entries and they opened the awards to international applicants this year.
“I have been an industrial designer for 36 years, but have never won this award so new territory.”
Blue Tongue Solar started volume renewables in Yarrawonga helping 350 locals onto the lucrative Premium solar tariff scheme in 2010. Since then they have become leaders in the industry with a client lists including BMW, Linfox, banks and airlines.
Warren said Blue Tongue Solar’s clients collectively produce five million kilowatts of green power and offset 7,500 tons of C02 per year.
The annual Good Design Awards is Australia’s oldest and most prestigious international Awards for design and innovation with a proud history dating back to 1958.
The awards celebrate the best new products and services on the Australian market, excellence in architectural design, engineering, fashion, digital and communication design, design strategy, social impact design and young designers.
More than 55 Good Design Awards judges evaluated each entry according to a strict set of design criteria which covers ‘good design’, ‘design innovation’ and ‘design impact’. Projects recognised with a Good Design Award must demonstrate excellence in good design and convince the Jury they are worthy of recognition at this level.
The Good Design Awards judges praised Blue Tongue Energy Park, commenting: “Great design concept, great solution and extremely well executed.
“Huge solar array with robust construction design and clever use of galvanised steel to reduce material usage.
“Overall, this is a very innovative solution that will have a significant impact on the renewable energy sector.
“With the high number of hot, exposed parking areas across Australia and in other countries, this solution has enormous potential to cost effectively transform these areas into cool spaces that integrate solar power generation, water harvesting and smart lighting.
“The economic and environmental impacts of this solution is really exciting and a shining example of true Australian innovation and design.”
CEO of Good Design Australia Dr Brandon Gien said receiving a Good Design Award is a significant achievement given the very high calibre and record number of entries received in 2020.
“Australia’s Good Design Award is more than a symbol of design excellence - it represents the hard work and dedication towards an innovative outcome that will ultimately make our lives better.
“These projects showcase the shear brilliance of design and the potential it has to improve our world,” said Dr Gien.
21°C